Fishing for a Reason

Your Crab Pot Is Losing Crab (Here's the Fix)

Crabbing is one of the best fisheries in the San Juan Islands, and one of the few that keeps going long after salmon season closes. But a pot that is rigged wrong will lose crab on the way up, or let them walk straight back out while it is sitting on the bottom. This episode is the full setup, every piece, from the bridle to the buoy, plus the four things that make your pot legal in Washington.

Episode Overview

- Why an angled ramp entry holds crab and a flat entry lets them leave, and which pot to pick

- The rope mistake that costs people gear: nylon floats, so it belongs on the bridle and nowhere else

- How to weight a pot with a downrigger ball, and the zip tie step that stops your bait shooting out

- What actually makes a crab pot legal in Washington waters

- Why rot cord matters, and what to do if you lose a pot

- The gear that makes crabbing off a boat easier, including mounts and a pot puller

Timestamps

00:00 - Why crabbing is the season that keeps going

00:26 - Welcome to Fishing for a Reason

00:55 - Burnewiin mounts and a quick-switch boat layout

01:50 - Why we use a pot puller even for crabbing

03:12 - The McKay pots we fish, and why

03:48 - The nylon rope mistake to avoid

04:30 - No Escape ramps vs Fast Fisher flat entry

04:51 - What a GoPro in a crab pot shows you

05:10 - Weighting the pot, and the zip tie that saves your bait

06:11 - Rigging it: bridle, sea links, 120 feet of leaded line

06:49 - What makes your pot legal in Washington

07:58 - If you lose a pot, report it

08:40 - The mistake that jams your doors open

09:15 - The Fast Fisher, and when a shorter soak works

Key Takeaways

- Nylon rope floats, so use it for the bridle and leaded line for everything else.

- 120 feet of leaded line covers the depths most people crab around here.

- Zip tie any weight inside the bait cage, or the drop will push your bait out the top.

- Angled ramp entries make it harder for crab to leave; flat entries fish faster but lose more.

- Do not over-soak. Crab get out, and a long soak is not a free upgrade.

- A red and white buoy with your name and address on the pot is the law, not a suggestion.

- Rot cord means a lost pot stops fishing instead of killing crab forever.

- A salmon head hung too near the door will jam it open and cost you the whole soak.

Resources & Links

McKay Shrimp & Crab Gear: https://mckayshrimpandcrabgear.com

Burnewiin: https://burnewiin.com

Report a lost or derelict pot: https://salishseaalliance.org/derelict-gear/

WDFW crab regulations: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfishing-regulations/crab

Want more?

Go to https://anglersunlimited.co/gold to learn more about our membership. Monthly expert seminars, step-by-step courses, fishing maps, and a community of 100+ anglers who want you to succeed.

About the Podcast

Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

Tide vs Current: Why You're Fishing at the Wrong Time

If you have been planning your fishing day around the tide table, you are reading the wrong instrument. Tide tells you how high the water is. Current tells you how hard it is moving, and that is what decides where the bait sits and when salmon feed. This episode separates the two, shows you where the strongest current actually falls, and gives you a repeatable way to plan any trip in any season.

Episode Overview

• Why tide is vertical and current is horizontal, and why confusing the two puts you on the water at the wrong hour
• Where maximum current actually falls, according to NOAA, and why it is not at high or low tide
• What hard current does to baitfish, and why that decides the bite window rather than whether salmon are hungry
• The roughly two-hour window either side of slack when the food chain is most active
• Where bait goes when it cannot hold in the flow, and why you should fish the lee and back eddies
• A screen walkthrough of three tools showing the same place on the same day
• How to apply all of it to September coho in Marine Area 7

Timestamps

00:00 - What Salmon School students wanted most
01:24 - Welcome to Fishing for a Reason
01:57 - Tide is vertical, current is horizontal
02:38 - Flood and ebb: the vocabulary
03:03 - Max current is not at high or low tide
04:15 - What slack water actually is
05:13 - Why timing is different everywhere
06:01 - What current does to the bait
07:07 - The two-hour bite window
07:47 - Where bait goes when it cannot fight the current
08:41 - The 1.5 knot rule
09:56 - Three tools, same place, same day
13:37 - Applying it to September coho
14:11 - Final takeaways

Key Takeaways

• Tide is vertical, current is horizontal, and current matters more to your fishing day.
• Maximum current happens between the tides, not at high or low tide.
• Slack and high tide are not the same moment, and they can be far apart.
• Hard current pins bait flat to the bottom; slack lets it rise and the salmon move in.
• Fish roughly an hour either side of slack current.
• When the current is up, fish the lee and back eddies instead of the flow.
• A big exchange can mean a harder day, not a better one.
• Check the current station for the exact place you are fishing, because timing varies everywhere.

Resources & Links

• NOAA on tides and currents: https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov
• NOAA tidal current predictions: https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/noaacurrents/stations.html?g=698
• Island Fisherman Magazine, Fishing Tidal Currents to Your Advantage: https://islandfishermanmagazine.com/fishing-tidal-currents-to-your-advantage/
• Navionics: https://www.navionics.com
• WDFW sport fishing regulations: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations
• Previous episode on coho run timing: https://youtu.be/1rftcbGi7yQ

Want more?

Go to https://anglersunlimited.co/gold to learn more about our membership. Monthly expert seminars, step-by-step courses, fishing maps, and a community of 100+ anglers who want you to succeed.

About the Podcast

Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

Where Are All the Coho? How to Predict Salmon Timing in Washington Waters

"Where's all the coho?" is the question filling up the Gold community right now, and it's a fair one. If you've been grinding August hours in Marine Area 7 without a legal fish to show for it, nothing is wrong with you or the run. This episode walks through the biology, the public data, and the regulations that explain coho timing, so by the end you can work out any species in any year for yourself instead of waiting for someone to tell you.

Episode Overview

• Why coho run on a rigid three-year clock while chinook can take anywhere from two to seven years, and why that makes coho far more predictable
• What jacks are, why up to 30% of a wild return can be them, and what a pile of small early coho actually tells you about that year
• The rain trigger most anglers miss: coho stack at stream mouths and wait for flow to rise
• Real WDFW creel numbers from September 2024 in Area 7, and what they prove about September versus August
• Why Marine Area 7 rules can be stricter than neighboring areas because of Canadian stocks and the Pacific Salmon Treaty
• The three-step process to forecast your own season: read the wild coho forecast, check the regs, check the emergency rules

Timestamps

00:00 - Where's all the coho?
01:00 - Women on the Water, September 17
04:00 - The coho three-year clock
06:00 - Jacks and genetic variation
07:00 - The rain trigger
08:00 - Where coho hold in Marine Area 7
09:00 - Creel data and the September spike
11:00 - 2026 Marine Area 7 salmon windows
12:00 - Mixed stock fishery and the Pacific Salmon Treaty
15:00 - Three steps to forecast any season

Key Takeaways

• The coho aren't missing in August, they just haven't shown up yet.
• Coho are a September fish in Washington waters, and the creel data proves it.
• Fish the exterior of the San Juan Islands, not the inside passages.
• Watch the rain forecast as closely as the tide chart.
• A run of small jacks is real information about that year, not bad luck.
• Marine Area 7 rules that feel stricter are often protecting somebody else's fish.
• Every date in this episode will be wrong next year, which is why you learn the process.

Resources & Links

• WDFW coho salmon species page: https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/oncorhynchus-kisutch
• WDFW Puget Sound creel reports: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/reports/creel/puget
• WDFW emergency fishing rules: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/emergency-rules
• WDFW sport fishing regulations: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations
• Fish Washington app: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/washington-fishing-app
• NOAA Fisheries coho salmon: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/coho-salmon-protected
• WDFW Wild Coho Forecast publication: https://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/02698
• Women on the Water, Sept 17, Bellingham Yacht Club, 5-8pm, free: https://wkf.ms/467GOYu
• North of Falcon episode: https://youtu.be/N_QH0se7ZQU

About the Podcast
Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

Washington Crabbing 101: How to Stay Legal and Fill Your Pots

Two Dungeness crab come out of the same pot, same day, same size. One gives you a quarter of its body weight in meat. The other gives you less than 20%, and what you do get is sparse, stringy, and a pain to pick. Most people who have crabbed for years still cannot tell those two crab apart.

This episode fixes that, and takes on the bigger surprise: crabbing has more rules than salmon does. Jamie covers every rule that can turn a fun Saturday into a citation, then gets into what actually fills pots -- depth, bait, soak time, and where to set in the islands.

Episode Overview

• The licensing step most people miss on the Fish Washington app, and why skipping it makes you illegal
• What is actually legal for kids, including why a four month old cannot hold a limit
• Gear that has to be right before you leave the dock: escape rings, rot cord, buoys, leaded line
• Real spots in Marine Area 7 plus Scott's Oak Harbor and Skagit Bay picks
• Why over-soaking your pots costs you crab, backed by GoPro footage shot inside a pot
• The three-check keeper test: sex, size, and the pinch that separates soft shell from hard

Timestamps

00:00 -- Two crab, same size, very different coolers

02:00 -- Resurrection Derby and Women on the Water

06:00 -- Your license, and the catch record card step people miss

08:00 -- Kids on the boat: free licenses and legal extra limits

11:00 -- Open days, escape rings, rot cord, and legal buoys

14:00 -- Weighting your pots and where Dungeness actually live

17:00 -- Marine Area 7 spots, plus Scott's Oak Harbor picks

18:00 -- Bait, soak time, and the over-soak mistake

22:00 -- Limits, sex, size, and the pinch test

26:00 -- Eight takeaways before you leave the dock

Key Takeaways

• Buying the shellfish license is not enough, you have to add the crab catch record card separately.
• Every license needs its own phone, so your teenager cannot ride along on your app.
• Kids under 16 fish free and hold their own limit if they can physically work the gear.
• Crabbing is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Marine Areas 6 and 7, and pots have to be out.
• Two units of crab gear per person, with no cap on units per boat in Puget Sound.
• Set your pots in the evening and pull at first light, because crab feed at night.
• Soft shell crab give up less than half the meat, so pinch the rear leg and toss the soft ones back.

Resources & Links

• Resurrection Derby, Bellingham Bay, August 29-30, 2026: https://www.resurrectionderby.com
• Women on the Water with LFS, Thursday September 17, Bellingham Yacht Club, free, 100 seats: https://wkf.ms/467GOYu
• Report a lost crab pot, Northwest Straits Foundation: https://www.derelictgear.org | https://nwstraitsfoundation.org/
• WDFW shellfish gear rules: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfishing-regulations/gear-rules

Want the full structured learning experience? Join Anglers Unlimited Gold and get expert seminars, step-by-step courses, fishing maps, recipes, and a community that wants you to succeed: https://anglersunlimited.co/gold

Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie and Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques and local knowledge to help you get off the couch and into the fish.

No Downriggers? You Can Still Catch Salmon (Here's the Setup)

For anglers who have a boat but no downriggers or aren't ready to invest before they know they'll stick with fishing, salmon can still feel out of reach. In this episode, Jamie breaks down the simplest, most budget-friendly way to target coho and king salmon using a deep six diver instead of downriggers. This one's especially useful if you're fishing a sailboat, a smaller boat, or you're just getting started and want to try before you buy.

Episode Overview

• Why coho season (September) is one of the best times to fish without downriggers
• How to rig a deep six diver as a downrigger replacement
• The right leader lengths for running a diver straight to bait versus adding a flasher
• Best lure choices for diver fishing
• How far behind the boat to run your gear and what trolling speed to use
• Where to learn about mooching as another downrigger-free option
• Why you need a catch record card and how to add one to your WDFW license

Timestamped Sections
00:00 – Intro and Salmon School waitlist mention
01:00 – Used downrigger episode reference (Episode 53)
02:00 – Why coho season is perfect for diver fishing
03:00 – Whiskey rod explained, caution on turns
04:00 – Deep six diver mechanism explained
05:00 – Rigging basics: herring in a hood, lateral line
06:00 – Short bus flashers and leader length setup
07:00 – Leader length details and lure choices
08:00 – Popping the clip and fighting the fish
09:00 – How far to run your line and trolling speed
10:00 – Mooching as an alternative
11:00 – Catch record card requirement and wrap up

Resources & Links
Free Lure Training: https://anglersunlimited.co/3-essential-luresEpisode 53, How to Buy Used Fishing Gear on a Budget: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJRBKP90yss&t=713sMooching Episode with Justin Wong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNOZrq0NBVA&t=6sWDFW App / Catch Record Card Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taN8OEi2t-Q&t=454sWDFW Fishing Regulations: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulationsYakima Bait Flashers: https://amzn.to/4gpGQQv

Want more tutorials like this one? Join Anglers Unlimited Gold and get access to expert seminars, step-by-step courses, fishing maps, and a community of anglers who want you to succeed. https://anglersunlimited.co/gold

Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

The Science of the Strike: Why Salmon Hunt (And How to Catch Them)

If you want to stop guessing and start understanding why salmon do what they do, this episode is for you. Jamie breaks down the actual science behind salmon behavior -- how they find food, what triggers a strike, and why your lure action matters more than your lure color. This isn't theory for theory's sake. Every principle connects directly to how you fish.

What this episode covers:

• Why salmon in the Salish Sea are typically found in the upper 30 meters of the water column -- and how to use that to your advantage
• Why "current change" is the phrase that should replace "tide change" in your vocabulary
• How tidal jets create convergence fronts that stack baitfish -- and why that's exactly where you need to be
• What the lateral line is and why it may matter more than vision when it comes to triggering a strike
• The real science on color and depth -- and why red is essentially invisible below 33 feet
• Why erratic, irregular lure movement triggers predatory instincts in salmon

Timestamps

00:00 -- Introduction: the science behind salmon and why it makes you a better angler
01:30 -- Salmon School announcement (August 9, Anacortes)
03:00 -- Where salmon hold in the water column and why it matters
04:00 -- Current change vs. tide change: why the language matters
05:00 -- Tidal jets, convergence fronts, and where bait stacks
07:00 -- Using sonar to find fish that won't bite
07:30 -- Salmon diet: herring, sand lance, and matching the hatch
09:00 -- Lure selection: Kingfisher Spoon, Coho Killer, hoochies, and matching prey
10:00 -- The lateral line: how salmon detect your lure before they see it
12:00 -- Why flashers work and why lure action is primary
13:00 -- Color physics at depth: what salmon can actually see
14:00 -- UV and glow lures: what the science says (and doesn't)
16:00 -- What triggers the strike: erratic movement and vulnerable prey
18:00 -- Key takeaways and closing
19:00 -- Salmon School wrap-up

Key Takeaways

• Salmon in the Salish Sea primarily hold in the upper 30 meters -- your depth decisions should be calculated, not random.
• Current change -- not tide change -- is the variable that concentrates baitfish and creates feeding windows.
• Tidal jets create convergence fronts where herring, sand lance, and candlefish stack -- and where salmon follow.
• The lateral line is a fish's built-in pressure and vibration sensor, and research suggests it may be more important than vision for triggering a strike.
• Water absorbs red and orange light by about 33 feet deep -- color choices below that depth should lean toward green, blue, and UV reactive.
• UV lures have strong anecdotal and industry support, but peer-reviewed science on UV vision in Pacific salmon at fishing depths is still limited.
• Erratic, irregular lure movement mimics a vulnerable baitfish -- and that's what gets a salmon from following your lure to striking it.

Resources Mentioned

• Salmon School (August 9, Anacortes): https://anglersunlimited.co/salmonschool
• ScienceDirect Lateral Lines & Fish: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/veterinary-science-and-veterinary-medicine/lateral-line
• Encyclopedia of Puget Sound: https://www.eopugetsound.org/
• What Salmon See: https://www.science.org/content/article/how-salmon-see-world-anew
• Pacific Wild (forage fish research): https://pacificwild.org/how-salmon-need-herring/
• Steve Chamberlain previous episode: https://youtu.be/29aTkrlzHWw?si=4ZC-fd9Nz7uAYvlo
• Sea Bear Smokehouse: https://seabear.com/pages/about-seabear

Want to fish smarter this season?

We have 13 spots left at Salmon School on August 9th in Anacortes. You'll get hands-on sessions on sonar, gear setup, trolling technique, reading current, and more -- including a smoked salmon tasting from Sea Bear Smokehouse. Sign up at anglersunlimited.co/salmonschool before it's gone.

About the Podcast

Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp, and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

Stop Guessing: The Salmon Fishing System That Actually Works

If you own a boat, have the gear, and still keep coming home empty-handed, this episode is for you. Jamie walks through the exact training she's taught in seminars and private sessions for years -- the same one boaters from all over Washington have used to go from frustrated to consistent. By the end, you'll understand the four-part system that separates the boats that limit out from the ones that go home empty every time.

Episode Overview

• Jamie shares her own rough first season chasing salmon in the San Juan Islands and the local legend who changed everything for her
• Learn the three types of fishermen and which one might be quietly holding you back
• A full breakdown of rod, reel, downrigger and terminal tackle setup
• How to plan a trip using tides, current and wind apps before you ever leave the dock
• A real video walkthrough of sending gear down and landing a fish
• The four-question review habit that turns one good trip into a repeatable process

Timestamps
00:00 - Salmon School announcement and what's ahead
04:00 - Meet Jamie and Scott, welcome to the training
09:00 - Jamie's early struggles finding salmon in the San Juans
12:00 - The three types of fishermen, which one are you
16:00 - Pillar 1, prep your gear like a pro
21:00 - Rod, reel and downrigger setup breakdown
27:00 - Choosing lures, bait and terminal tackle
33:00 - Pillar 2, planning an exceptional day on the water
38:00 - Reading tides, current and wind before you leave the dock
46:00 - Pillar 3, on the water fishing technique walkthrough
57:00 - Pillar 4, process and review, the nine questions that level you up

Key Takeaways

• Fishing success comes down to performance, not luck or the newest lure.
• Fishing the current change matters more than fishing the tide change.
• Most anglers skip the review step, and that's exactly what separates the committed rookie from the proficient angler.
• Prepared anglers catch more fish because they spend more time fishing and less time fixing gear.
• Sending two different lures down at once helps you figure out what the fish actually want that day.

Resources & Links
Salmon School, August 9th in Anacortes: https://anglersunlimited.co/salmonschool

Want hands-on training with real gear demos, a sonar deep dive with Steve Chamberlin, and a filleting demo from SeaBear? Join us at Salmon School in Anacortes on August 9th. Grab your spot at https://anglersunlimited.co/salmonschool

Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

Fly Navarro on the Wildest Tie in Blue Marlin World Cup History and Why Anglers Need to Organize

This one is for anyone who fishes here in Washington but hasn't thought much about what it takes, at the policy level, to keep that fishing possible. Fly Navarro has run the only global blue marlin tournament in the world for over a decade, and it just produced the first tie in the event's 41-year history. He also sits on fishery boards back east, and had a lot to say about why our community needs to organize too. This one covers the tournament story, conservation vs. environmentalism, and hard-won lessons on decision-making, faith, and building a trustworthy circle.

Episode Overview

Guest Robert "Fly" Navarro is Tournament Director of the Blue Marlin World Cup, the only worldwide blue marlin tournament, now in its 41st year
The inside story of the July 4th tournament tie: two boats weighed blue marlin at the exact same 653 pounds
Why Fly believes the fishing and hunting community needs to organize the way environmental groups do
Conservation vs. environmentalism, and how it connects to seal and sea lion predation on Washington hatchery salmon Life lessons on decision-making, choosing your circle, and taking a leap of faith, from Fly's path from deckhand to running tournaments in Saudi Arabia
A direct invite to the Washington Tuna Classic in Westport, benefiting local veterans through Mission Outdoors

Key Takeaways

Two boats weighed blue marlin at the exact same 653 pounds, the first tie in the Blue Marlin World Cup's 41-year history. The fishing and hunting community needs to organize the way environmental groups do, before laws get passed that are hard to repeal. Conservation means protecting a resource for future generations; environmentalism means keeping people from using it at all. Seals and sea lions, protected since 1972, now eat a significant share of hatchery salmon. The best decisions come after you let the emotion pass, not in the heat of the moment. Who you let into your circle matters more than how big your reach gets. Failure isn't falling short of a goal, it's quitting after you fall.

Timestamps
00:00 - Meet Fly Navarro and what this episode covers
00:04 - Fly's "why" behind fishing
00:14 - From $4-an-hour deckhand to running blue marlin boats worldwide
00:21 - Building a social media company and 1,500 free how-to videos
00:23 - How a marina visit in Jeddah led to Saudi Arabia's first fishing tournaments
00:28 - Why Fly and girlfriend Naomi chose the San Juan Islands
00:33 - Why fishermen and hunters need to organize like environmental groups
00:36 - Conservation vs. environmentalism, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act
00:52 - The July 4th tournament tie: two blue marlin, same exact weight
01:24 - Building a trustworthy circle and learning to trust your gut
01:41 - Faith, fatherhood, and what's happened to young men
01:59 - Closing question and the Washington Tuna Classic invite

Resources Mentioned
Blue Marlin World Cup: https://bluemarlinworldcup.comWashington Tuna Classic (Westport, July 24-25): https://missionoutdoors.org/programs/wtc/The FlyZone Podcast with Fly Navarro: https://open.spotify.com/show/1jqRM7mm0xFWbeqr6XkEzJ
Fly’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flynavarro_/Fly’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/FlyNavarroAnglers Unlimited Gold: https://anglersunlimited.co/gold

About the Podcast

Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

This one was recorded dockside in Anacortes, right on the back deck of Jamie and Scott's new Pursuit 325 (you'll hear Navy jets flying overhead once or twice, no editing that out). Jamie & Scott sit down with Tom Anderson, owner of Burnewiin, right where his product actually lives. Tom walks through how he thinks about cockpit layout, why versatility at the rail level changes how you fish, cruise, and entertain, and how to set a boat up so you can go from trolling for salmon to cleaning fish to grilling dinner without gear getting in your way. Whether you're outfitting your first boat or rethinking your current setup, there's a lot here for you.

Episode Overview:

• How Tom went from ice fishing shanties in Wisconsin to running one of the Pacific Northwest's top marine accessory companies
• A full walkthrough of Jamie and Scott's new Pursuit 325 and how Tom recommends laying out mounts for trolling, drift fishing, and bottom fishing
• The gear that makes cleanup, cutting, and rigging on the water easier
• New Burnewiin products in development
• Tom's work with the American Sportfishing Association advocating for sport fishing access in Washington, DC, and how it connects to the North of Falcon process

Timestamped Sections:
00:00 – Intro: why this episode was recorded dockside on the new Pursuit 325
01:00 – Meeting Tom Anderson, owner of Burnewiin
05:00 – From ice fishing in Wisconsin to running Burnewiin
10:00 – The story behind Jamie and Scott's new Pursuit 325
15:00 – Planning rod holder placement for trolling, drift, and bottom fishing
18:00 – Building a transom rigging and cutting station
23:00 – Fender cleats, rail mounts, and keeping the gunwale clean
25:00 – New products coming from Burnewiin
28:00 – DIY installation tips for boaters rigging their own boat
45:00 – Tom's favorite Burnewiin product and why
50:00 – Sport fishing advocacy and the fly-in to Washington, DC

Key Takeaways:

• Plan your rod holder placement around how you actually fish, not just how the boat came from the factory.
• A modular mounting system lets one boat handle trolling, drift fishing, bottom fishing, and cruising without dedicated hardware for each.
• The best gunwale accessories store out of the way until you need them, then lock in fast.
• Quality accessories cost more up front but save you fish and frustration over time.
• Sport anglers and tribes often share more common ground on fisheries issues than people assume.
• Where individual anglers can actually make a difference on policy.

Resources & Links:

• Burnewiin: https://burnewiin.com/
• Islands Marine Center: https://www.islandsmarinecenter.com/
• American Sportfishing Association: https://asafishing.org/
• Pursuit Boats: https://www.pursuitboats.com/

Want the full structured learning experience?
Join the waitlist for Anglers Unlimited Gold membership (opening July 2026) at https://anglersunlimited.co/gold

Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

The new WDFW App: Setup Online Licensing Guide Before Season Opens

Before salmon season kicks off, there's one thing that can derail your whole day before you ever leave the dock: a fishing license problem. Jamie shares a real story from a shrimping trip gone sideways, then walks through exactly how to set up Washington's WDFW mobile app so you and your guests are legal, confident, and ready to go with the new online licensing system.

In this episode:

• How to recover a forgotten WDFW username and password step by step
• Why a screenshot of your license is NOT legal and what is
• How to find the shellfish license
• What to do if you're in a remote area with no cell service
• The after-hours support number most anglers don't know about
• Discover Pass vs. Vehicle Access Pass and why they're not the same thing

Timestamps
00:00 - Dad forgets his license, chaos ensues
03:00 - Why Jamie made this video
04:00 - Myth #1: You CAN get after-hours WDFW support
05:00 - Myth #2: A screenshot is not a legal license
06:00 - Screen share walkthrough: WDFW website and app setup
09:00 - How to download and navigate the myWDFW app
10:00 - Finding the shellfish license in the app
12:00 - Discover Pass vs. Vehicle Access Pass explained
14:00 - "Account not found" and other common login hiccups
15:00 - What to do if you're remote with no service
17:00 - How to submit app feedback to WDFW
17:30 - Dead phone = forgotten license. Bring a power bank.

Key Takeaways

• WDFW has after-hours tech support at 360-902-2464 (option 1). Use it.
• A screenshot of your license is not legal proof. You need the app's enforcement tab or a printed copy.
• An annual saltwater license does NOT cover shellfish. That's a separate $20 purchase.
• If you can't find a license in the app, use the search bar. It's easy to miss on the main page.
• Mobile license holders cannot get a reprint at a sporting goods store if they lose service.
• Open the app while you still have service before heading somewhere remote. It works offline after that.
• A dead phone is the same as forgetting your license. Bring a power bank.

Resources and Links

• WDFW Mobile App (myWDFW): Search "WDFW" in the App Store
• WDFW Mobile App Info Page: https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/apps/mywdfw
• WDFW After-Hours Tech Support: 360-902-2464, option 1
• App Feedback Email: appsupport@dfw.wa.gov
• Anglers Unlimited Gold Waitlist: https://anglersunlimited.co/gold

Ready to go deeper? Join the waitlist for Anglers Unlimited Gold membership at https://anglersunlimited.co/gold -- monthly expert seminars, step-by-step courses, fishing maps, and a community of 100+ anglers who want you to succeed.

Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp, and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie and Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish.

Brianna Bruce of Livin' Life Adventures has guided Washington waters for 15 years and she fishes just about everything that swims. In this episode, she's back to share what makes Baker Lake sockeye one of the most unique and rewarding fisheries in the state, including the gear tweaks, troll speeds, and bait strategies that separate limits from empty coolers.

In this episode:

• Why Baker Lake produces the biggest, brightest sockeye in Washington — and why the fish arrive in such good condition
• The troll speed mistake that kills most people's chances
• Why dodgers outperform flashers, and how leader length affects your hook-ups
• Bait and scent strategies that are legal at Baker but not allowed at other sockeye lakes
• How to fish the right depth
• Brianna's guiding philosophy: why the best trips aren't always about the fish count

Timestamped Chapters:

00:00 - Welcome and intro to Briana Bruce

01:00 - Briana's background: a lifelong angler turned 15-year guide

05:00 - Guide philosophy: making memories when the fish don't cooperate

08:00 - Species and seasons: where Briana fishes year-round in Washington

14:00 - Why Baker Lake is her favorite fishery in the state

17:00 - 2025 season dates, limits, and run size forecast

20:00 - The mistakes anglers make: troll speed, dodgers, leaders, and bait

23:00 - Simulating a school and finding active fish

25:00 - The one that got away story

Key Takeaways:

• Troll significantly slower than kokanee setups
• Short leaders outperform long flasher-style leaders in this fishery
• Live sand shrimp early season, cured coon shrimp mid-season, cured prawn chunks late season
• Fish the 20–40 foot zone — deep marks are usually bull trout or inactive fish
• Run extra rods or dummy flashers to mimic a school and trigger more bites
• Baker Lake opens July 11th tentatively this year with a starting limit of four fish
• The run forecast

Resources & Links:

• Briana Bruce / Livin' Life Adventures: http://livinlifeadventures.com
• Book a charter or connect: gofish@livinlifeadventures.com | Text: 206-714-2112
• Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / YouTube: search Livin' Life Adventures

Ready to go deeper? Join the waitlist for Anglers Unlimited Gold membership at https://anglersunlimited.co/gold — get access to exclusive trainings like the full Baker Lake Sockeye session with Briana, plus expert seminars, step-by-step courses, fishing maps, and a community of 60+ anglers who want you to succeed.

Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp, and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

How to Catch Spot Shrimp in Washington (Complete Beginner Guide)

If you've been thinking about getting into shrimping this season, but aren't sure where to start, this episode is built for you. Jamie and Scott walk through a Shrimping 101 seminar pulled straight from inside the Anglers Unlimited Gold community, covering everything from pot selection and gear setup to processing your catch dockside.

In this episode:

• Why shrimping is one of the best entry points for new anglers and families
• Spot shrimp biology, what makes these guys unique and why the season is short
• Coffin pot vs. Ladner vs. square pots
• Pot puller options at every price point
• Line management with the SMI Rope Winder and why it matters
• Bait setup: shrimp pellets, Pro-Cure attractant, Chub Mackerel, and Friskies cat food
• Weather, tides, and current planning so you don't lose gear
• How to process your catch on the boat and stay in compliance

Timestamps
00:00 — Welcome back + Jamie's first shrimping trip with the newborn
01:45 — 2026 shrimping regulation update and Marine Area 7 rule change
04:15 — Spot shrimp biology
05:30 — 2026 season dates and area openings/closures
07:30 — Four steps to shrimping success overview
07:50 — Shrimp pot breakdown: coffin pots, Ladners, and square pots
11:00 — Pot puller options: Scotty, Pacific Pro/Brutus, Max T-Hall
12:00 — Line management: bucket method vs. SMI Rope Winder
13:30 — C-links, cannonball setup, and connecting your rig
14:30 — Bait: pellets, Pro-Cure, Chub Mackerel, and cat food
16:00 — Weather and current planning
18:00 — Live boat footage: pulling a loaded coffin pot
20:30 — Processing your catch and counting limits on the water
21:30 — Pro tips: fishing logs, timers, and exploring new spots

Key Takeaways

• Coffin pots have the largest footprint and the most entry ramps — once Scott and Jamie switched, they started limiting out almost every time.
• Orient your bridle longways (perpendicular to current) so both bait wells throw a wider scent trail.
• Wind is not your friend — if it's bad out, you will lose pots.
• Check your first set within 45–60 minutes so you have time to move if the spot isn't producing.
• Keep a fishing log and mark productive spots on your sonar so you can return.
• Always set a timer — it's surprising how fast the time goes and how easy it is to leave gear down too long.
• Tidal prediction apps are helpful but they're predictions — not gospel.

Resources & Links

• WDFW Shrimping Regulations & Area Closures: https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/pandalus-platyceros
• McKay Shrimp & Crab Gear: https://www.mckayshrimpandcrabgear.com/
• Navionics App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/navionics-boating/id744920098
• SailFlow: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sailflow-sailing-forecasts/id555309964
• Windy: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/windy-app-wind-tides-radar/id997079492
• Free Shrimp Pot Setup Guide + Recipe: https://anglersunlimited.co/shrimp

Ready to go deeper? The full seminar — including a deep dive on where to find shrimp, how to read contours, and live Q&A — is inside Anglers Unlimited Gold.

Email support@anglersunlimited.co with "CATCH MORE FISH" to learn more.

About the Podcast
Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp, and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

If you've ever stared at a shrinking salmon season and wondered who decides this stuff—and why—this episode is for you. Jamie sits down with Gabe Miller, longtime fishing buyer and 14-year member of the Puget Sound Sport Fishing Advisory Group, to pull back the curtain on North of Falcon, the models behind your seasons, and the one 30-second habit that could actually help. You'll walk away understanding the system better than 99% of anglers out there.

Episode Overview:

• How North of Falcon, the feds, the tribes, and Canada all have to line up before your inside seasons get set
• Why the $3 billion economic value of WA sport fishing keeps getting ignored
• What VTRs are and how filling them out honestly protects future seasons
• Why "don't tell the fish checker anything" is quietly hurting all of us
• How the advisory group really works—and why those hallway relationships matter
• The real bottleneck in the whole season-setting process (it's not what you'd think)

Timestamps:
00:00 – Meet Gabe Miller & his PNW fishing background
00:02 – The serendipitous path to becoming a fishing buyer
00:05 – The $3 billion sport fishing economy nobody credits
00:11 – How losing steelhead opportunity pulled him into advocacy
00:12 – ESA, Hood Canal & how salmon stocks get managed 00:18 – Getting involved: joining the advisory group
00:24 – What VTRs are and why they matter
00:29 – The 30-second habit that protects your season
00:31 – Inside the Puget Sound Sport Fishing Advisory Group
00:38 – How the North of Falcon process actually works
00:41 – The real bottleneck: timing
00:44 – Gabe's epic fishing story with his son

Key Takeaways:

• WA sport fishing drives $3 billion, 17,000 jobs, and $275M in tax revenue—and rarely gets credit for it.
• Telling the fish checker "I caught nothing" feels clever but sabotages next year's season.
• Filling out a VTR honestly takes 30 seconds and genuinely helps the department manage seasons.
• The advisory group carries no formal weight, but the relationships built there move the needle.
• The biggest problem with season-setting isn't the science—it's the compressed last-minute timing.
• Getting involved beats complaining online every single time.

Resources & Links:

• WDFW Fishing Regulations: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations
• North of Falcon process info: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/management/north-falcon
• Pacific Fishery Management Council: https://www.pcouncil.org
• VTR Form https://str.wdfw-fish.us/home
• FREE Salmon Training: https://anglersunlimited.co/3-essential-lures
• Join the Gold waitlist: https://anglersunlimited.co/gold

Want the full structured learning experience? Join the waitlist for Anglers Unlimited Gold membership at https://anglersunlimited.co/gold

About the Podcast: Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

If you've ever felt like fisheries management was too complicated, too political, or too far above your pay grade to matter — this episode is for you. Jamie sits down with Alex Van Hine (Fish Northwest) and Phillip Olson (Badger Fishing) for a straight-talk conversation about what's actually broken in Washington's salmon fishery management process — and what you can do about it.

In this episode:

• Why the North of Falcon process is broken
• How exploitation rate math gives one side a negotiating advantage
• The advisory group issue: who's in the room, who should be, and why it matters
• Why showing up in person to public meetings — even silently — changes the outcome
• How to get involved starting right now, even if you've never been to a meeting

Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction
01:00 – Philip's background and how Badger Fishing took off
08:00 – Alex's background: La Conner, San Juans, and getting serious about NOF
14:00 – What's actually broken in the North of Falcon process
18:00 – The Stillaguamish fin-clip problem explained
25:00 – The structural problem: time, scheduling, and communication
29:00 – The Puget Sound Sport Fishing Advisory Group: what it is and what's wrong
43:00 – How to get involved and why your voice matters
56:00 – Fish return numbers, NOF2 in Lynnwood, and the road to June
01:04:00 – Closing tradition question and where to follow Alex and Philip

Key Takeaways:

• The North of Falcon process is broken by design, not by the people inside it.
• The most constrained stock in Puget Sound is a hatchery-marked fish we're actively keeping — that needs to change.
• Exploitation rate numbers aren't equal between co-managers, and that shapes every negotiation.
• The advisory group needs active NOF participants, not appointed seat-fillers.
• 800,000 people buy Washington fishing licenses — 1/10th of 1% showing up would change everything.
• You don't have to speak to matter. Just being in the room sends a message.
• Your voice matters more than you think

Resources & Links:

• Fish Northwest: https://www.fishnorthwest.org
• Badger Fishing (Phillip Olson): Search "Badger Fishing" on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook @badgerfishingnw
• Alex Van Hine (Instagram): @reelpnw_avh
• WDFW: https://wdfw.wa.gov/about

Want the full structured learning experience? Join the waitlist for Anglers Unlimited Gold membership at https://anglersunlimited.co/gold

About the Podcast: Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp, and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

If you've been frustrated by shrinking fishing seasons, confusing regulations, or contradictory information about what's really killing Washington's salmon runs — this episode is for you. Ron Garner, President of the Puget Sound Anglers, has spent nearly two decades inside the rooms where these decisions get made. He's fought to keep fisheries open, built bridges between tribes and recreational anglers, and has the data to back up what he says. This conversation will change how you see the salmon crisis.

What this episode covers:

• Why so-called "wild" Chinook salmon in Washington state are essentially gone
• How the Hatchery Science Review Group (HSRG) was covertly suppressing hatchery production
• The real data behind habitat loss
• Why seals and sea lions now kill more salmon than commercial, tribal, and recreational fishing combined
• How Ron's relationship-building approach with tribes, WDFW, and NOAA has produced more wins than any protest or petition
• What recreational anglers can do right now that actually moves the needle

Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome back + baby news
03:45 Ron Garner's background and how shrinking halibut seasons pulled him into fisheries advocacy
07:30 Becoming PSA State Board President and pivoting from ocean fisheries to Puget Sound salmon
09:30 NOAA's proposed Puget Sound fishing closures and how PSA stopped them with the Rockfish Descender program
15:30 The biggest problem in Puget Sound
19:00 HSRG explained and the fight to remove it from WDFW salmon policy
34:00 Ron's PowerPoint: the real root causes of salmon decline
48:00 Hatchery production cuts vs. orca decline, flood-destroyed egg beds, and why hatcheries are the only reason we still have fish
01:09:00 Predator crisis, ocean condition cycles, and what recreational anglers can actually do to help

Key Takeaways:

• Hatcheries are not the enemy
• Cutting hatchery production has not brought wild fish back; the data shows the opposite.
• Over 82% of the Skagit estuary is gone
• Seals and sea lions kill more salmon than all fishing sectors combined, multiplied by six.
• The tribes have saved recreational fishing more times than most anglers will ever know.
• Relationship-building with WDFW, NOAA, and tribes has produced more wins than any protest or petition.
• If we don't stop fighting each other and start making more fish, our grandkids won't be fishing.

Resources & Links:

• Puget Sound Anglers: https://pugetsoundanglers.org
• WDFW Fishing Regulations: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations
• "Top 10 Reasons for the Salmon Decline" — Robert T. Lackey https://youtu.be/VVrXWt9VPMU?si=n6plzYlxsdmJxsF2

Want the full structured learning experience? Join the waitlist for Anglers Unlimited Gold membership at https://anglersunlimited.co/gold

Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp, and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

If you're fishing Washington waters in 2026 — or thinking about it — this episode is your early-season cheat sheet. Jake Lint from LFS Bellingham breaks down his halibut setup, derby strategy, and go-to lures for Bellingham Bay salmon. Plus, Olivia Erb shares what's happening with LFS's Women in Fishing campaign and everything you need to know about their upcoming Spring Fishing Seminar.

In this episode:

• Jake's halibut rigs, bait, and how he targets fish early season in 60-80 feet of water
• What he learned running halibut charters in Alaska — and how it applies to fishing the San Juans
• Gear recommendations for Bellingham Bay salmon (including West Coast Tackle picks)
• A 58-pound halibut, a lost 100-pounder, and a 76-year-old Vietnam vet who pulled anchor by hand
• LFS's Women in Fishing campaign and the incredible stories behind it
• What to expect at the LFS Spring Fishing Seminar on April 25th

Timestamps:
00:00 — Meet Jake Lint & Olivia Herb from LFS Bellingham
03:00 — Jake's guiding background: six years, Alaska halibut charters
06:30 — LFS Spring Fishing Seminar: April 25th details, free food, prizes & 20% off
09:00 — Halibut opener April 2nd: Jake's day-one spots and depth strategy
11:00 — Halibut jigging setup: the stinger hook and why it's non-negotiable
16:30 — Fish Northwest Derby recap: the 58-pounder they landed and the 100-pounder they lost
21:00 — Big halibut safety: harpoon, gaff, and boat protocol for large fish
24:00 — Salmon season outlook: Bellingham Bay proposal and 2026 projections
27:00 — Go-to lures for Bellingham Bay salmon (West Coast Lures breakdown)
31:00 — Rod & reel recommendations at every price point
39:00 — LFS Women in Fishing campaign: stories of women reshaping the industry
47:00 — Closing question: how to get the next generation excited about fishing

Key Takeaways:

• Early halibut season means shallower water — start at 60-80 feet and go deeper as the season progresses.
• A stinger hook on your jig is non-negotiable when jigging for halibut
• Circle hooks don't lose fish
• Small, white lures (West Coast Tackle fatty 2.5 in ghost white) dominate the Bellingham Bay bubble.
• You don't need expensive gear to catch fish — match your gear investment to how long you plan to use it.
• Getting kids into fishing is about comfort, sugar, and going somewhere they'll actually catch something.
• Women are reshaping the fishing industry, and LFS is actively telling those stories.

Resources & Links:

• LFS Bellingham (Sports Fishing Dept — ask for Jake)
• LFS on Instagram/Facebook/TikTok: @LFSMarine
• LFS Spring Fishing Seminar — April 25th, 10AM–3PM, Fisherman's Pavilion, Bellingham: Link to RSVP on Facebook
• Fish Northwest Halibut Derby (April 11–12)
• Anacortes Halibut Derby (May 2–3)
• West Coast Tackle
• OnX Maps (land ownership + public access app)
• Anglers Unlimited Gold Membership Waitlist

Ready to level up your fishing? Join the waitlist for Anglers Unlimited Gold — monthly expert seminars, step-by-step courses, fishing maps, and a community of anglers who want you to succeed. https://anglersunlimited.co/gold

Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers

If you fish Puget Sound — or want to — Conner Martinis of John Sporting Goods in Everett is one of the most trusted names in the region. In this episode, Conner shares his family's legacy in the fishing industry, what's keeping him up at night before the Area 10 blackmouth opener, and the new JSG Guide app that's about to change how anglers navigate Puget Sound.

Episode Overview

• Conner's story: how a third-generation family business became the go-to resource for Puget Sound anglers
• What to expect on the Area 10 blackmouth opener — locations, pressure, and honest expectations
• The #1 mistake anglers make with downriggers (and the fix that changes everything)
• Gear breakdown: spoons, hoochies, plugs, and bait for spring Chinook
• The JSG Guide app — interactive waypoints, AI fishing advice, tides, currents, and trip reporting in one place

Timestamps
00:00 — Introduction and Connor's background at John Sporting Goods
01:00 — Family history: from Bob's Sporting Goods to Connor taking over in 2019
04:00 — Fishing obsession, the competitive mindset, and what drives Connor
05:30 — Life after taking over: fishing schedule, weekday advantages, store hours
07:00 — Vision for John Sporting Goods and the upcoming JSG Guide app
12:00 — Where to follow Connor and how to track the app launch
13:00 — Area 10 blackmouth opener breakdown: spots, conditions, and expectations
16:00 — The #1 downrigger mistake and how to work the bottom correctly
18:00 — Bait rigs, banana weights, and anchovy setup for spring Chinook
19:00 — Spoons, hoochies, plugs: Connor's full gear breakdown
22:00 — West Coast Tackle inventory and new gear Connor is excited about
23:00 — Pro Troll's "Con Man" flasher and what's hot this season
24:00 — Most common customer question: what color is working?
25:00 — Closing question: mastering current to find more fish

Key Takeaways

• Hit the bottom with your downrigger ball every minute — don't set it and forget it.
• The current — not just the tide — tells you where the bait is moving and where the fish will be.
• Confidence in your gear matters as much as the gear itself — fish what works and don't swap out when the bite is slow.
• The Killy Magee spoon has been Conner's top producer for two straight seasons.
• Dirty river runoff can push resident blackmouth out toward the strait — adjust expectations accordingly.
• Fishing during the week means less pressure and the freshest reports when you get back to the dock.

Resources & Links

• John Sporting Goods (Everett, WA): https://www.johnsportinggoods.com
• JSG Guide App (coming soon) — follow John Sporting Goods on Facebook and Instagram for the launch
• WDFW Fishing Regulations: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations
• Anglers Unlimited Gold Membership Waitlist: https://anglersunlimited.co/gold

Ready to go deeper? Join the waitlist for Anglers Unlimited Gold membership at https://anglersunlimited.co/gold — expert seminars, fishing maps, step-by-step courses, and a community of anglers who want you to succeed.

About the Podcast
Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp, and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

Charter Captain Justin Wong of Cut Plug Charters in Seattle breaks down the complete mooching system for new anglers — from brining your herring to landing fish. Justin runs one of the very few year-round salmon charter operations in the Puget Sound and has been mooching his whole life. If you want to try the original Puget Sound salmon technique, this is your starting point.

In this episode:

• How mooching originated in Elliott Bay and why it still works today
• The complete system: bait prep, rigging, drop technique, and converting bites
• Why "crank before you yank" is the most important phrase in mooching
• Top Area 10 spots — Kingston Ferry and Jeff Head — and what tides to fish them
• The two biggest beginner mistakes and how to avoid both
• North of Falcon and how to get involved in the Puget Sound Sport Fishing Advisory Board

Timestamps:

00:00 Meet the Hosts and Guest
01:03 Justin’s Fishing Roots
03:53 Fleet and Year Round Gameplan
05:46 Mooching Origins in Elliott Bay
07:39 Mooching vs Downriggers
08:37 Charter Walkthrough and Gear Basics
10:44 Avoiding Tangles on the Drop
12:42 Hookset Secrets Crank Before Yank
15:47 Bait vs Hardware Cut Plug Only
17:06 Brining and Bait Prep
20:06 Fresh Bait and Hook Choices
23:13 Picking Bait Size and Cutting Angles
25:18 Hook Placement and When to Change Bait
27:36 Teasing the Fishing System
28:44 Tides Not Phone Fish
30:47 Sonar And Drift Tracking
31:53 Mooching Versus Jigging
32:33 Working The Bait Ball
33:37 Multiple Hookups Chaos
35:42 Gear Rods Reels Rigging
38:24 Where To Mooch Area 10
40:00 Moochers Versus Trollers
44:09 Beginner Mistakes Fixes
47:14 Hiring Great Captains
50:34 Charter Experience Mindset
52:45 North Of Falcon Involvement
57:51 Food Question And Wrap

Key Takeaways:

• "Crank before you yank" — get tight with the fish before you set the hook.
• If your bait's spinning, it's winning — angle of your cut matters more than hook placement.
• Slow your drop to eliminate tangles — the frustration happens on the descent.
• Stay on the bait fish — drifting off the high-percentage zone kills your bite.
• Moderate action rod is non-negotiable — let the fish eat before it feels resistance.
• Closed mouths don't get fed — get involved in North of Falcon if you care about the fishery.

Resources & Links:

• Cut Plug Charters — seattlesalmonfishing.com | @cupplugcharters | (206) 920-9482
• WDFW North of Falcon — https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations
• Anglers Unlimited Gold Waitlist — https://anglersunlimited.co/gold
• Free Lure Tying Training — https://anglersunlimited.co/3-essential-lures

Join the Waitlist When you sign up at https://anglersunlimited.co/gold you'll get immediate access to two free trainings: the Four Ps Method and a step-by-step lure tying tutorial.

About the Podcast Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp, and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited — practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights every episode.

Standing in the tackle aisle staring at a wall of lures you don't recognize? You're not alone. In this episode, Jamie breaks down the only three salmon lure setups you need to start catching fish while trolling in Washington's saltwater — so you can walk into the tackle shop with confidence and skip the guesswork.

Episode Overview:

• Why most beginners overcomplicate their tackle box
• The three proven lure setups for trolling salmon in Washington
• How salmon's powerful sense of smell should shape every presentation decision you make
• Specific products and colors that consistently produce fish in the Puget Sound and San Juan Islands
• Why running multiple presentations at once is a game-changer
• A look inside actual salmon bellies to see what these lures are designed to mimic

Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction: The tackle shop overwhelm problem
01:00 – The three setups every salmon angler needs to know
02:00 – Bait rigs: Why natural bait is the most effective option for beginners
03:00 – Salmon's sense of smell and why herring and anchovy dominate
04:00 – Scent management: Why clean hands matter more than you think
05:00 – Spoons: Simple, fast, and designed to mimic bait fish
06:00 – Why most lure colors are marketing (not fishing strategy)
06:15 – Hoochies: Plastic squid setups and how to run them behind a flasher
07:00 – Running multiple presentations to figure out what's working
08:00 – Screen share: What each lure setup actually looks like
09:00 – Bait rig demo and a look inside salmon bellies
10:00 – Wrap-up and next steps

Key Takeaways:

• Bait, spoons, and hoochies are the only three setups you need to start trolling for salmon in Washington.
• Bait gives you the most natural presentation and a direct rod-to-fish fight with no flasher in between.
• Salmon have one of the most powerful senses of smell in the animal kingdom
• Most lure colors are designed to catch fishermen, not fish
• Always run at least two different presentations so you can figure out what's working that day.
• Spoons are the fastest setup to deploy, making them ideal for maximizing your time on the water.
• Match your lures to what's already in the water — candlefish, herring, and squid.

Resources & Links:

• FREE Training – The Only 3 Salmon Lures You Need: https://anglersunlimited.co/3-essential-lures
• Anglers Unlimited Gold Membership Waitlist: https://anglersunlimited.co/gold
• WDFW Fishing Regulations: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations

About the Podcast: Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

If you're fishing marine areas 9 and 10 out of Edmonds and wondering why you're not consistently filling the cooler, this episode is for you. Captain Dan Meyers of Hunt Fish PNW joins Jamie & Scott to share decades of Puget Sound salmon knowledge — plus the exact gear setup, trolling tactics, and mindset that have him putting limits on the boat trip after trip.

Episode Overview:

• How Dan went from growing up on a family fishing resort to running a charter business built on service and inclusion
• The exact flasher and hoochie combo Dan runs on every trip — and why he stopped chasing shiny new gear
• Dan's secret herring prep method: UV brine + vacuum seal = oily, fish-attracting strips that last all season
• Why bumpers are a game-changer for flasher action — and how to choose the right length
• Trolling tips for keeping gear clean, dialing in cable angle, and avoiding the rat's nest

Timestamps:
00:00 – Podcast intro
03:00 – Meet Dan Meyers (Hunt Fish PNW) and his childhood fishing resort story
07:00 – Military background and how it shaped his charter captain philosophy
13:00 – Dan’s new Duckworth 30XL vs his previous boat
16:00 – Fishing focus: Marine Area 9 & 10 salmon strategy
18:00 – Simplifying tackle: The Purple Hornet flasher setup
21:00 – Herring strip scent system and vacuum-sealed bait method
24:00 – Leader length adjustments and aggressive trolling tactics for coho
29:00 – Marine Area 13 fishing strategy and location differences
32:00 – Giant 41-lb king salmon caught in Elliott Bay
34:00 – Top king salmon spots: Possession Bar, Jeff Head, and oil docks
36:00 – Fishing with family: Dan’s daughter as deckhand
41:00 – VIP bumpers and gear tweaks that increase catch rates
43:00 – Preventing tangles, downrigger tips, and trolling speed strategy
49:30 – Advice for beginners: Why hiring a guide can accelerate learning
50:40 – Podcast tradition: Dan answers the final question
52:00 – Favorite fishing companies and gear recommendations

Key Takeaways:

• Simplifying your gear to two or three proven setups will outfish a tackle box full of untested options
• Cable angle at 45 degrees is your trolling speed gauge
• Vacuum-sealing UV-brined herring strips keeps them oily and effective all season long
• Bumper length controls flasher action: shorter bumper = tighter roll, longer bumper = wider roll
• Area 10 coho are everywhere; area 13 kings require fishing specific spots tied to tide and current
• The best way to learn is to get on a charter and absorb everything — then apply it the next day on your own boat
• Slow your turns down with multiple downriggers out, especially when current is pushing against you

Resources & Links:

• Hunt Fish PNW
• Hunt Fish PNW on Instagram: @huntfishpnw_
• Pro Troll Flashers
• Stryker Rods
• Three Rivers Marine
• Anglers Unlimited Gold Waitlist & Bonus Training
• Episode 56: How Washington Salmon Seasons Get Set (North of Falcon 101)

Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.